Banks boost Europe shares as ECB outlook shifts
* FTSEurofirst 300 up 0.9 pct in choppiest day since March
* Banks lead advance after ECB shift on rates
* Global growth worries weigh on steel, oil shares
By Amanda Cooper
LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - European shares rose on Thursday in their most volatile day of trade in over three months after a flurry of mixed U.S. data and the European Central Bank's surprise shift in its stance towards monetary policy.
Pharmaceutical stocks were among the biggest gainers throughout most of the day, although banks ousted drugmakers from the top spot in afternoon trade.
The ECB delivered a widely expected quarter-point rate rise to euro zone rates.
But markets were taken by surprise when ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said in remarks after the decision he had "no bias" towards monetary policy, which investors interpreted as a signal no more increases were forthcoming for now. Continued...
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